Platform-operated machine.



3 vfihewew G. I. LEONARD & W. G. CUTLER.

PLATFORM OPERATED MACHINE.

1 1101 1 1011 FILED SEPT. 27, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ii) 3 H l9--5i I7? venzora:

10. 71527512171; Caller. Z6 5 em eZZeanard.

gmw aw 1 5.7-1. 60 Wat/1111, Mi

COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPN Cu..WAsmNuToH, 11.12

G. I. LEONARD & W. C. CUTLER.

PLATFORM OPERATED MACHINE.

APPLICATION mum SEPT. 27, 1911.

Patented May 14, 1912.

8 BI IEETBBHEET 2.

A. 1111.. 6O I I I "ix Z IKE/670L075); Tlfzzneases: Y (flier.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPM COHVIMIIINOTW, D. I.

UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

GEORGE I. LEONARD AND WILLIAM C. CUTLER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO ISABEL M. CUTLER, 0F SAWTELLE, CALIFORNIA.

PLATFORM-OPERATED MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Gnonon I. LEONARD and VVILLIAM C. CUTLER, citizens of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Platform-Operated Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines such as advertising devices, vending machines, etc., which are adapted to be selectively controlled by an operator and require, after such selective control, the forcible operation of an operating means to effect the exhibiting or delivery action appropriate to the machine. The main object of the present invention is to provide for the forcible operation in such machines, by the weight of the operator without the necessity of the operator moving a lever or turning a crank, the operation of the machine according to this invention being by means of a platform moving under the weight of the operator.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and referring thereto:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine partly in section. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on line ar r in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the operated mechanism with parts broken away. Fig. 5 is a section on line w 0c in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a section on line w-w in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section on line m w in Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the interlocking means for the ope ated mechanism, showing the same in released position. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the interlocking means, showing one of the keys in locked position. Fig. 10 is a section on line m m in Fig. 6.

The invention is shown as applied to an operated machine consisting of an advertising device, forming the subject matter of our application, Serial No. 644,048, filed August 14, 1911, but it will be understood that t is applicable to any machine requiring forelble operation after a selective operation has been performed thereon. The operated machine, indicated at A is supported on a post or standard B, rising from a base C, and a platform D is connected by suitable mechanism hereinafter described to operate the machine after the selective control thereof.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 27, 1911.

Patented May 14, 1912.

Serial No. 651,650.

The operated machine is mounted in a case 1 having an extension 2 extending forwardly from its front to serve as a keyboard. The case 1 extends upwardly from the keyboard and is provided with a window or aperture 3 in its front through which is exposed a portion of a curtain 4, winding on rollers 5 and (i, in the interior of the case, said rollers being carried by shafts 7 and 8. Shaft 7 carries a pinion 1O engaged by a gear wheel 11 on a shaft 12, mounted to turn in plates 18 and 14 in the case, said shaft 12 being rotated by a spring 15 connected thereto and to the plate 14 in such manner as to tend to turn the gears 11 and 10 so as to wind the curtain or sheet 4 on the roll 5, this being the roll on which the curtain or sheet is normally mounted. Means are provided for winding the curtain temporarily on the other roll 6 to a greater or less extent according to the part of the curtain which is to be exposed, said curtain having printed or other matter thereon, arranged in sections as indicated at 17, said matter comprising, for example, directory information with advertisements, the operating and controlling meehanism being such as to expose such different sections selectively.

The operating mechanism comprises a shaft 25 rotatably mounted in the case and connected by gears 26, 27, 28, and 29 with the shaft 8 aforesaid, said shaft 25 being operated by engagement of a bevel gear 24 thereon, with a bevel gear 23 on a shaft 23, journaled in the case and adapted to be operated by the platform mechanism. For this purpose the shaft 23 may carry a gear 22 engaged by a rack 20 on a bar 20 extending vertically in the post B and connected at its lower end to the platform mechanism. A spring 30 is connected to the shaft 25 and to the case, tending to turn the shaft in opposition to the movement thereof by the platform mechanism. Guido means such as roller 24 may be provided for holding the rack bar in engagement with the gear 22.

The platform D may be mounted on base C by arms or levers 31, 32 so as to be movable vertically on said base, rack bar 20 being connected to lever 32, and springs 34 may be provided for lifting the platform and normallyholding the platform in raised position.

Suitable means are provided for locking the operated mechanism, said means consisting, for example, of a lever 44 pivoted in the case and engaging in a notch 45 in a disk 46 on the shaft 28 aforesaid, said lever 44 being adapted to be operated by a coin inserted through an opening 43 in said case, and engaging with a projection 42 on said lever. A spring 40 is connected to said lever, normally holding it in looking position.

The controlling mechanism consists of a key board comprising a bank of keys 48 whose stems 49 are mounted to slide vertically through perforations 50 in the case extension 2 and are connected at their lower ends to key levers 58 pivotally mounted at 54 and pressed upwardly by spring 55. The end of each key lever is provided with a light spring 56 engaging under a stop member 57 mounted to slide vertically in a perforation 58 in a segmental frame 59, these stop members 57 being directly beneath the gear wheel 26 aforesaid on the shaft 25, and adapted to engage with a slot 60 in said wheel. Said slot is preferably inclined as shown in Fig. 10, so as to insure that the pins will be pressed down out of the way on the backward movement of said wheel. Means are provided for locking each controlling key down in operated position until the controlling operation has been performed and the mechanism is on its return movement, For this purpose a segment strip 63 is mounted to slide in the guide 64 concentrically with the axis of rotation of the wheel 26, the controlling keys and levers being radially disposed around said axis, said segmental strip being provided with a series of notches 65 adapted to receive the respective key levers 53, said notches having shoulder portions 66 adapted to extend over the key levers when the key levers are depressed and the segmental strip is moved longitudinally. Such longitudinal movement of the segmental strip is produced by the engagement of an inclined face 67 on the key lever with an inclined face 68 on said segmental strip. This same longitudinal movement of the segmental strip by any key lever brings the shoulder portions 66 directly under all the other key levers so as to prevent the same from being operated. Wheel 26 has a projection 70 for engaging a lever 71, pivoted at 72 and con nected to strip 63 to return the same to normal position.

The operation is as follows: A siring to use the machine steps on the platform and operates the key board by pressing one of the keys 48, corresponding to the class of information desired or the matter to be exhibited by the machine. The weight of the person on the platform tends to deperson depress the rack bar 20 and turn the shaft 23 and the mechanism connected thereto, but such rotation of the shaft is prevented by engagement of the locking lever 44 with the notch in the disk 46. Having, however, performed the selecting or controlling operation above described, the person operates the lever 44, for example, by inserting a coin through the slot 43 and such operation of the lever causes it to be released from the locking disk 46 and to allow the shaft 23 to rotate under the action of the weight of the person exerted through the bar 20, gear 22, shaft 23, gears 23 and 24, shaft 25, gears 26, 27, 28 and 29, and shaft 8, causing the strip or roll of paper or fabric to be wound from the roller 5 onto the roller 6, the movement of the paper being arrested by engagement of the stop member 57 corresponding to the operated key with the slot 60 in wheel 26. WVhen the person steps off the platform, the acting force on the bar 20 is released and the parts are returned to normal position by operation of the platform springs and of the spring 30.

It will be understood that in place of the operated mechanism above described, any operated mechanism for performing any exhibiting or delivering operation may be used provided such mechanism comprises a member corresponding in operation to the display curtain herein shown, such member being movably mounted to move to different positions and being selectively operated through variant distances under control of a bank of keys. With any such machine, the operation. of the said member by the weight on the platform has the advantage that operation of the member is insured through the full stroke as determined by the selected key.

What we claim is:

The combination of a curtain, rollers on which said curtain is wound, curtain operating mechanism connected to said rollers, a bank of keys for selectively controlling the operation of said curtain operating mechanism, a weight operated platform and mechanism connected to said plat-form and to said curtain operated mechanism to operate the curtain through variant distances under the control of said keys.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Los Angeles, California, this 20 day of September, 1911.

GEORGE I. LEONARD. V. C. CUTLER. In presence of Gr. T. HAOKLEY. GLAnYs RUssELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). G. 

